On July 27th, MMi confirmed that Apple had purchased mobile tech security developer AuthenTec Inc.for more than $350 million.

According to no shortage of analysts who weighed in on the matter from the start, it looks like Apple has big plans for the leading maker of a cutting-edge fingerprint sensor technology. And that's perhaps why Apple rushed to close the deal.

New reports surfacing Thursday indicate that Apple may deploy fingerprint scanning technology in conjunction with NFC and other mobile payment components in the next-generation iPhone - that is, the one we will likely get our hands on next month.

Although Apple hasn't yet confirmed NFC or fingerprint scanning integration in iOS 6, Apple has certainly laid the groundwork for such mobile payments and security features, especially with the likes of Passbook. Passbook is a forthcoming Apple application that will provide a digital wallet service for storing eTickets, mobile coupons, and other digitized merchant cards.

Reminds me of one of the first Themes i used via Cydia on my lockscreen. Of course the finger print was fake but it was cool to look at. Would like to see it incorporated. Maybe in the iPhone 7 we can get retina reading?? My eyes my eyes haha!

Then, if you lose your iphone or it get's stolen, a thief with knowledge of this technology,
could possibly lift your fingerprint for nefarious means...

Well they can lift our finger print either way with our phone.. But I see what you mean if it's inside the software. I just hope if it does add to the slide to unlock it will just bypass passcode and then for peeps who don't have my magic fingers they can just get in with the passcode